Couple of new multi-family developments coming to the South Perry District

 Soon there will be more places to live in Spokane's South Perry neighborhood. That's because two separate developments from two different developers are currently in the planning phase in the neighborhood and when built they will add over 130 new apartments to the in-demand area. First of all is:

1217 E. Newark Ave. 

Located on a recently vacated lot on Newark at the corner of Denver St and in the curve just north of The Bike Hub a local developer is working on a future four story building that will house 40 apartments with 43 surface parking spaces. This development recently cleared the SEPA application process and in the SEPA application they indicate they hope to begin construction during the spring/summer of 2026. 

The development is still in the planning phase so we have not been able to confirm if these will be market rate apartments or some other sort of tenancy. There also is no general contractor or renderings available on it just yet however according to documents filed with the City of Spokane the architectural work for this new project is being done by Trek Architecture.

819 S. Hatch St.

Mentioned as Hatch Garden Apartments in paperwork, this development will likely end up being called The Summit and will be built as two four story apartment buildings and a separate club house / leasing office building with a total of 94 rental units once opened. The project is being developed by CM Development & Construction and will be just north of the Wisconsin Burger restaurant.

Representatives with CM did not reply to our requests for more information, but they did recently speak with our friends and colleagues over at the Spokane Journal of Business where they indicated these new apartments will be market rate units geared towards students and young professionals. Actual construction on The Summit should start in the Spring of 2026. For more information, including a look at the renderings of what The Summit will look like once completed check out the Journal of Business' story about it at https://www.spokanejournal.com/articles/17479-the-summit-apartments

Sweet Tooth now open on the South Hill

Courtesy photo via Anna @Spokaneplayground

Do you often times find yourself with a bit of a sweet tooth? Same! Then you'll want to join me in checking out a new locally owned and operated business on the South Hill called Sweet Tooth. Sweet Tooth can be found at 1230 S. Grand in a space that was once a Baskin Robbins.

Sweet Tooth is currently in the soft opening phase with an official grand opening coming on October 1st. The store is launching with donuts (over 50 varieties that rotate daily), some other baked goods and a decent coffee menu with coffee coming from Spokane based Cedar Coffee as the owner of that business, former Ukrainian refugee Igor Anisimov is also the owner of Sweet Tooth. For those who don't drink coffee, Sweet Tooth also sells teas and a couple other options.

We're also hearing that in the future Sweet Tooth will also carry Eastern European Cakes, quiches and sandwiches.

New map showing what's being built where...

 I've finally re-done the Google Map showing construction projects in the Spokane, Coeur d' Alene and Post Falls area! There might be places I've missed so feel free to reach out to ask and let me know (matt.behringer@inlandnwbusiness.com). This will also be missing many residential subdivisions, educational projects and run of the mill apartment complexes as I've always tried to make this site more commercial and industrial focused, but because of that it should have the vast majority of those projects.

Also, feel free to reach out or search this site if you need more info about a particular project.

And, if this benefits you, we do welcome donations via Buy me a Coffee at-

https://buymeacoffee.com/inlandnwbusiness

Port of Subs to drop anchor in North Spokane

 

Port of Subs is coming back to Spokane as the Reno,NV based company recently reached an agreement with entrepreneur, Ben Pearson to act as a regional developer and open a several new franchised locations throughout our area. The first of which is already a work in progress in North Spokane at 7808 N. Division Ave. Suite 1 which was last used as an unrelated Firehouse Subs restaurant.

This new Port of Subs will occupy the 2000 square foot space with some remodeling being done before opening, construction will commence once the building permits are granted. The general contractor for said work is listed as to be determined on documents filed with the city. Currently Pearson hopes to open this new location in January 2026 and it will feature indoor dining, carry out and delivery of Port of Subs menu of delicious sub sandwiches.  The company also has a convenient rewards app for easy online ordering. The company operates 145 locations and growing as of 2020 and has been in business since its founding as "Sub Shop" in 1972 in Sparks,NV.

This will be the first of likely many Port of Subs restaurants coming soon to the Inland Northwest. Pearson is currently seeking qualified franchisees to join and open Port of Subs locations. They currently plan to open 10 or more new stores between the Tri-Cities, Spokane and North Idaho. No other locations are set yet as of my writing this, but they are actively seeking new spaces.

For more information about Port of Subs, visit their website at https://portofsubs.com/

Franchise deal likely bringing more Wienerschnitzel restaurants to Spokane

 

After many delays and a slow construction process, the first Wienerschnitzel restaurant in the Spokane area opened in early 2024 at 10220 N. Newport Hwy and still remains open. But now with a recently announced franchise deal Spokane will be able to get their wiener fix even easier with more new restaurants from the quick service chain coming in the near future.

Boise based entrepreneur, Del Bufalo has opened two locations in the Boise area with his second opening recently in Meridian and has now signed on to open Wienerschnitzel stores in our area as well. He explains via press release. "We've seen consistent demand and an enthusiastic customer base here in Idaho. Expanding into Spokane is the natural next step, and I'm excited to introduce even more communities to our unique menu and guest experience" . The agreement is for Bufalo to open four new locations in the greater Spokane, WA and Post Falls - Coeur d' Alene,ID area. 

However, this is just the announcement of a franchise agreement, and no exact locations can be announced yet, nor can their opening dates. Wienerschnitzel reports having 340 franchised locations in operation throughout 13 states and 50 more units in various stages of development across the United States. The company is based in Tustin,CA and hot dogs and other fast food style menu items. For more information on Wienerschnitzel visit their website at http://wienerschnitzel.com/

El Pollo Loco coming to Spokane

 

More chicken is on its way to Spokane, but this time it's El Pollo Loco a Costa Mesa, CA. based quick service restaurant brand that to date doesn't have any locations in the Spokane market. Work has been underway behind the scenes for some time by a local Entrepeneur to bring multiple new franchised locations to the area. The first of which will be located at 5102 N. Division, which had been a Taco Time restaurant.

Currently they hope to open the first new local El Pollo Loco in the Spring of 2026, however construction and permitting delays have been commonplace recently so an exact opening date will be unknown for some time. In the future they plan to open multiple franchised locations around our area with more possible locations coming to North Idaho, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Moses Lake and a "handful" more in Spokane. 

El Pollo Loco restaurants specializes in a menu of Mexican-style grilled chicken items. The company reported having around 500 locations as of 2019, the most recent info I can readily find. Most of the brand's restaurants are located in the Southwest, although brands by the same name also operate in Mexico and the Philippines. In fact, the brand was founded in 1975 in Sinola,Mexico. For more information on El Pollo Loco visit their website at https://www.elpolloloco.com/

The District Lofts starts leasing in the Garland District

 

Courtesy photo

We've been watching the new apartment building rise behind the Garland Theater for the last few months now. And, after much anticipation the building's 44 apartments are now available for lease under the name The District Lofts. The building is located at 951 W. Walton, at the corner of Walton and Monroe on a parcel that was previously a section of the Garland Theater's surface parking lot.

The District Lofts offer newly constructed apartments with studios, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Apartments have open floor plans, high ceilings, Quartz countertops, LVP Flooring, walk-in closets, washers / dryers, private balconies and are pet friendly. And that's not to mention the new building is literally steps away from the Garland Business District, a walkable district of shops, restaurants, coffee shops and bars and the vast majority are locally owned and operated businesses as well.

Leasing for the new apartments is being handled by LT Property Mangement, and information can be attained by calling 509-315-8660 or emailing leasing@ltrealestateco.com . As of my writing this (9-15-25) they are also offering move in specials, but as these can change, please consult LT Property Management for current offers. 

Wing Stop planning location in Downtown Spokane

 

Wing Stop, the Texas based chain of Chicken Wing restaurants is expanding it's presence in the Spokane market with a new franchise location coming soon to Downtown Spokane. This will be the chain's fifth restaurant in Spokane County, with another location also open in Coeur d' Alene. We reached out to the Utah based franchise owner and we're told they also are hoping to open more locations in our area but as of now the Downtown location is the only one in development locally.

The new Downtown Spokane Wing Stop will be located in the Gateway to Spokane building at 2 W. Third Ave Suite 104, which was formerly a locally owned home decor store. Plans call for a remodel of the space before opening with the general contractor still listed as TBD on building permit documents. The space is a little shy of 1500 square feet with the remodeling project estimated to cost $300,000. The space will include a small indoor dining area but like other Wing Stop restaurants orders will be available for carry out or delivery.

No opening date is set for the new location but is estimated to be sometime this Winter. Wing Stop was founded in 1994 and today has over 2500 locations with stores in 14 different countries. Their menu consists primarily of chicken wings and chicken tenders. For more information on Wing Stop visit their website at https://www.wingstop.com

New strip mall planned near Poleline & Hwy 41 in Post Falls

 

Courtesy photo

The Highway 41 corridor on the eastern edge of Post Falls continues to be white hot with new businesses and development projects. Located in the heart of this area is the North Point development from Hayden based Corhaven Properties on the northeast side of the Hwy. 41 and Poleline Rd. intersection.

Earlier new stand-alone 7-11 and Grocery Outlet stores opened there and just a few weeks ago they also announced the upcoming construction of a McDonald's fast-food restaurant with dual drive through lanes. But next up will be a new construction strip mall with 4 bays that should start construction in the Spring of 2026 on the vacant lot in-between the new McDonald's and Grocery Outlet.

They are currently planning to have the new strip mall complete sometime during the Fall of 2026 with four versatile retail units, with one including a drive-thru window. There are no tenants that can be announced for the project as actual construction hasn't even commenced yet but pre-leasing for the site now underway and there is already interest. For information on leasing space in this new development and growing part of Post Falls contact Jeff Ottmar with NAI Black at 509-385-8889 . The development site also has two more pad sites available, so we expect more new business announcements from this site in the future so stay tuned.

Gena's Mexican Kitchen coming soon on the South Hill

 

A new restaurant is coming soon to Spokane's South Hill as the locally owned and operated Gena's Mexican Kitchen is working on their new location at 501 E. 30th Ave., the place is a little under a block west of the Manito Shopping Center and might be a recognizable address for some as the place was formerly the long running Gordy's Sichwan Cafe, that recently closed down.

The new restaurant is hoping to open sometime within the next few weeks, but doesn't have an opening date set yet as they are still working and waiting on health department approval. Gena's Mexican Kitchen say they will have authentic Mexican food with a full bar with items for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Their website appears to still be under construction as of my writing this but watch https://genasmexicankitchen.com/ and give them a follow-on social media via Facebook

Jampod opens in Spokane

 

Courtesy photo- JamPod

Spokane's musicians might want to make note of a new business now open, just east of Downtown at 2012 E. Sprague. That new business is JamPod and is a locally owned and operated establishment offering premium, fully equipped music rehearsal rooms for bands and artists alike.  

JamPod currently offer four rooms (aka pods) available for bands or musicians to rehearse or collaborate. As before mentioned the rooms are fully equipped, meaning the musician only needs to bring their own sticks and instruments and then prepare to rock out (or whatever type of music you preform). JamPod also has three silent rehearsal rooms that even have the capacity to record within them. The new business also plans to have some retail merchandise as well, featuring local guitar builders over the major brands like Fender and Gibson.

In the future the owners of JamPod intend to add things like open mic and jam nights, with more plans to grow and add to their offerings. For more information and to see what's going on a JamPod, visit their website at https://thejampod.com and give them a follow on social media via Facebook or Instagram

Big Flipper, pinball bar coming to Coeur d' Alene

 

Courtesy photo- Big Flipper

There's something cool and new coming to Coeur d' Alene. Big Flipper is opening soon and is already hosting soft opening events in their new place at 312 E. Annie Ave., in-between 3rd and 4th, nearby Thai Bamboo in Midtown Coeur d' Alene. The new locally owned and operated business is small pinball forward bar with over 20 different pinball machines spanning five decades, including a few rare gems!

In addition to pinball, Big Flipper also offers classic arcade games and two Skee-Ball lanes. Pinball tournaments and leagues will also be coming soon, as well as private event rentals. In addition to all the games at Big Flipper the new business will also have beer, wine, canned cocktails and what they describe as a "tasty, curated menu". Their goal is "your new favorite hangout" and in a time where so called Third Places are missing this will likely be a welcomed addition to Coeur d' Alene.

For more information, and to watch for their upcoming grand opening, give Big Flipper a follow-on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bigflippercda/

Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen planning new location in Downtown Spokane

 

Courtesy photo by Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen.

Locally owned and operated, Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen is working on their new third location. This time they will open their doors in Downtown Spokane, taking over the storefront that was last Soulful Soups and Spirits at 117 N. Howard St. . Soulful Soups recently re-opened under new ownership at 111 S. Madison, still remaining in the Downtown area. 

Supa! also operates locations in Cheney at 321 First and in Post Falls at 3904 E. Mullan Ave. Suite K.  They haven't released an opening date for the new Downtown restaurant, but it should open within the next few weeks. Supa! serves sushi, poke bowls, ramen and various boba teas. At opening they plan to also offer beer as an option in addition their standard non-alcoholic beverages. They also indicated to me that one day they hope to have bar or something similar on the rooftop of the building, although that won't be at the opening.

The restaurant's menu is available for indoor dining, take away or delivery via DoorDash. For more information on Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen, visit their website at http://lovesupa.com

VOA to celebrate grand opening of new Crosswalk Youth Shelter

 Volunteers of America Eastern Washington (VOA) will celebrate the grand opening of the new Crosswalk Youth Shelter at the new shelter on Thursday, August 28th from 1-3pm with remarks and dedication of Crosswalk Youth Shelter and Cannon Hall at 1pm. 

Courtesy photo- VOA

Since 1985, Crosswalk has been more than just a shelter it's been a lifeline says VOA but as Spokane has grown and changed so have the challenges faced by its youth. The Downtown shelter at 525 W. 2nd Ave. had become a place that did not meet the needs of the youth and could no longer support the full range of services youth need to thrive. When invited to help design their future shelter, youth described a fresh start - "a home in a neighborhood away from the stress of downtown, surrounded by green spaces and close to schools." The new facility is bright, modern, and filled with natural light, was designed with the youth it serves, offering not just safety, but dignity and belonging.

The new Crosswalk Youth Shelter stands next to Spokane Community College, Chief Garry Park, CHAS Health, and VOA Young Adult Shelter at 1440 N. Haven. The new Crosswalk Shelter features a welcoming shelter space on the first floor, the second floor is named Cannon Hall and hosts dorm style rooms for youth enrolled in education or employment programs. And the third floor is home to the VOA administration team.

The grand opening event will take place inside the new building with a ribbon cutting ceremony, and tours and refreshments available to all after the ceremony. To learn more about the works of VOA, visit their local website at http://voaspokane.com

Wings Pan to open new location in North Spokane

 

Courtesy photo- Wings Pan

Las Vegas has "The Strip" with numerous Casinos and other entertainment venues, while we in Spokane have "The Chicken Strip" and area of North Spokane where multiple chain chicken restaurants have set up shop. And the Chicken Strip is now expanding southward but also gaining a locally owned and operated chicken option. One that actually does have a somewhat different spin compared to what's there. I know I for one would love to see the crowds Chick-fil-a or Rasing Cane's bring at a new local restaurant.

That new local restaurant is Wings Pan and currently has its original restaurant at 401 1st St. in Cheney, which will also remain open as this will be their second store. The new location will be at 7115 N. Division Suite A, the space formerly occupied by Jalisco's Mexican Restaurant. Wings Pan is owned and operated by a Korean-American family and serves hand crafted Buffalo Wings, Korean Fried Chicken and Bulgogi Bowls. 

Currently Wings Pan is planning to open the North Spokane location sometime in September after they complete some renovations. In coming months, they also plan to build out a patio area for use once the warm weather returns next year. Some new menu items will likely also be added with the new location, and they will continue to be all gluten free.

For more information on Wings Pan, pay them a visit at their original location in Cheney, visit their website at https://wingspaneats.com/ , and give them a follow-on social media via Instagram or Facebook

Active & outdoor retailer Sierra opening Spokane Valley store this weekend

 

Courtesy photo- Sierra

Part of the TJ Maxx family of brands, Sierra, the off-price retailer known for offering high quality active and outside products at low prices will open their newest store at Evergreen Crossing Shopping Center in Spokane Valley on Saturday, August 23rd. The store is within a 19,000 square foot space at 13814 E. Indiana Ave, and is the second Sierra store in the Inland Northwest as another opened earlier this year near the corner of US 95 and Wilbur Ave. in Coeur d' Alene.

The new Spokane Valley Sierra store will open its doors with a grand opening celebration Saturday starting at 8:00 am, including music from a local DJ, Sierra branded giveaways, and a hidden tag activity offering shoppers a chance to win a Sierra gift card. The store will offer a wide selection of active and outside apparel, footwear, and gear - all from top-tier brands at prices the fit every budget. To support the local community in Spokane Valley, Sierra has made a $10,000 donation to the non-profit organization, Our Place Spokane .

"We're excited to be returning to Washington, bringing Sierra's off-price shopping experience to the residents of Spokane Valley,"  said Amanda Johnson, Assistant Vice President, Marketing Director with Sierra. "Our goal at Sierra is to support and active lifestyle for everyone by providing access to premium apparel, footwear and gear. We're committed to helping people find everything they need to stay moving year-round, doing the activates they love the most."

Sierra was founded in 1986 and is part of TJX Companies,Inc. the leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions in the US and worldwide. The brand reports currently having 132 stores and also sells via its website https://sierra.com

New Planet Fitness coming soon to North Spokane

 

The national fitness club chain, Planet Fitness is expanding and adding to their Inland Northwest presence with a new location now in the permitting phase in North Spokane. The company, operating under Fit SpokNorth,LLC filed for a change of use permit for a new location at 9534 N. Newport Hwy. This will be located in the southern end of the building that was once a Shopko store, just north of The Y in North Spokane. This will be the last vacant space in the building as the other spaces are already occupied by a Ross and HomeGoods stores.

Building plans included in the permit filing show the new Planet Fitness will take a 24,501 square feet space for a gym, storage area, tanning/massage and locker rooms/showers. As the information for this new location is coming from a source other than Planet Fitness or its franchise holder no opening date is available just yet. The tenant improvement project is expected to cost $1.2 million and while the general contractor is shown as TBD, the architect on the project is DKMullin Architects of Moscow,ID.

This will be the fourth Planet Fitness location in Spokane and Kootenai County as others are already open at 1617 W. Northwest Blvd in Spokane, 13112 E. Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley and 200 W. Hanley in Coeur d' Alene. Planet Fitness is a New Hampshire based company with around 2800 locations in North America, Australia and the Dominican Republic, for more information, visit their website at http://planetfitness.com

You read us, now help us!

 

Nice to meet you! I'm Matt Behringer, writer, editor, CEO and all-around good guy at Inland Northwest Business Watch.

Inland Northwest Business Watch is not a large company with a newsroom, agenda, big high paid staff or really much more than a 40-year guy with an a somewhat unusual obsession with finding and supporting new local businesses. But now that I've built this site many in the Spokane and Kootenai County area do turn to me to find out what's going in there. Sure, I miss a bit, and I misspell somethings or use bad grammar occasionally (and you all love to call me out on those!) but I still love what this site has become. But, despite its small size it's not free to run so it's that time I get to join the crowd of people asking for a bit of your money as a thank you or as a tip.

Donating to Inland Northwest Business Watch is not now, nor will it ever be required but it does help pay the bills that lately have been increasing. For those of you familiar with me , Matt Behringer, that 40-year guy who runs this site you know I relocated at the end of 2023 to Ohio but do the site remotely and with the assistance of Spokane based connections. But my goal is to return to the area more frequently to meet in person with local business owners and those making a difference in the Inland Northwest and donations do assist in this. I want to tell more businesses stories!

Donations will always be available by clicking the "Support us" link at the top of the page. But I also recently added a "Buy Me a Coffee" link as well at the URL listed below. Want to give $2 as a thank you? You're awesome and thank you. Have I helped you find leads and want to make sure this site doesn't go anywhere and toss a larger monthly amount my way? You're also awesome and thank you. Just can't give anything but want to keep checking the site periodically because you want to impress your friends with knowing when a new restaurant is coming to Spokane? You're awesome too and thank you!

Donate via Buy Me a Coffee-

https://buymeacoffee.com/inlandnwbusiness

Photos and leads are welcome!

Another way to support Inland Northwest Business Watch is by being our boots on the ground. As I mentioned, I now live in a small town north of Columbus,OH and do this site remotely from there. I plan to make frequent visits to the Lilac City and might end up living there again in the future but for now this can be a site partially ran by the community. If you know of something opening, even if it's your own business, send me an email and tell me what you know. 

See construction starting somewhere, snap a picture and email it to me! I can and will give you credit, unless you don't want it. 

My email (which I also have to pay for!)-

Matt.Behringer@inlandnwbusiness.com

Thank you for your time! 

New Rum & Tapas Bar coming soon to Downtown Spokane

 

Work and licensing is under way for a new Rum & Tapas bar that is coming soon to Downtown Spokane. Local business owner Brian Harkey, who owns Cease and Desist, also in Downtown Spokane is planning to open a new business called Plunder which will be located at 108 N. Washington Suite 105. The space was last used a long running business called Left Bank Wine Bar.

Plunder doesn't have an opening date as of yet, but they do hope to open with the next couple of months. The place is described as a Rum/Taquila/Mezcal bar with tapas style bites. Food items will be from Latin America with things like Ceviche, Cubano sliders, Empanadas' and similar with many exciting drink options.

A website and social media for Plunder are also coming soon. Keep and eye on the Inland Northwest Business Watch social media in lieu as I plan to include updates as this exciting new eatery progresses.

Avenue29 Apartments now open on the South Hill

 

Courtsey photo - Avenue29 Apartments.

Avenue29 Apartments, a newly constructed 21 unit apartment building is now open and welcoming new residents on the vibrant South Hill. Located off of the intersection of 29th Ave. and Grand Blvd. (717 E. 29th) the property offers convenience and accessibility in one of Spokane's most desirable neighborhoods. Within a one-block radius of Avenue29 is a grocery store, pharmacy, banks, restaurants and medical offices. With schools ( Hutton Elementary and Sacajawea Middle School ), coffee shops and fitness centers also located just minutes away, eliminating the car for most day-to-day needs. "We always envisioned this project as a gateway for moving into this part of town"  said Ross Blevins, a member of Avenue29, LLC and neighborhood resident. "We are excited to further strengthen the community with a diverse array of folk who will call Avenue29 home and hopefully become permanent residents of the neighborhood."

The community features a mix of modern studio, and one-bedroom apartments designed with spacious floor plans, abundant natural light through large windows, and in-unit appliances residents know and trust. Select units include enhanced accessibility features, making the community a welcoming option for residents with varying mobility needs.  Public transportation is also readily available, with a major STA bus stop located adjacent to the front of the property.

For more information on Avenue29 Apartments, including who to contact about leasing an apartment in the community, visit their website at http://www.avenue29apts.com

Mallory Paint Store planning new location on the South Hill

 

Mallory Paint Store, a regional chain of Benjamin Moore Paint retail stores is planning a new location on Spokane's South Hill. This will be the company's fourth location in the Spokane area, with two more stores located in North Idaho. 

The new South Hill Mallory Paint will be located in the same shopping center as Target at 3104 E. Palouse Hwy Suite A2, which was formerly used as a mattress store. Like the other locations this new Mallory Paint Store will carry all colors of the Benjamin Moore Paint brand including paints, stains and primers and an array of painting supplies. Currently the store is planning to open at the beginning of September.

For more information on Benjamin Moore Mallory Paint Store, visit their website at https://mallorypaint.com

Miniso & Urban Planet opening at Spokane Valley Mall

 While other malls, especially those in more rural areas are dying off and turning to other non-retail uses, Spokane Valley Mall continues to pull in shoppers and even new businesses. The mall recently announced on their social media pages that Minso, a rapidly growing and trendy chain of Chinese based retail stores will host a grand opening celebration on Aug 9th at their new location on the lower level of the mall in-between Victoria's Secret and Box Lunch. The new store carries toys, plushies, collectables, beauty essentials and more.

Additionally, Spokane Valley Mall also recently added a new location of the Urban Planet chain. Urban Planet is a newer brand for the US the claims to be where "streetwise fashion meets bold attitude". the Spokane Valley Mall Urban Planet store is located on the second floor of the mall nearby the food court. Areas nearby the mall are growing too with the Evergreen Crossing shopping center across Evergreen Rd. from the mall will soon be home to a new Sierra and Five Below store and the new Dave & Busters opening August 11th along E. Mansfield just northwest of the mall. 

What would you like to see come to the Spokane Valley Mall?

Konala planning new location nearby Gonzaga

 Konala, the growing North Idaho based chain of quick service restaurants serving an array of protein packed bowls, salads and more is continuing their expansion in the Spokane area. The company recently opened their first Spokane location at 6740 N. Division in North Spokane. And one more can be confirmed to be coming soon.

The newest Konala restaurant will occupy the former home of Forza Coffee on the ground floor of the mixed-use Matilda Building at 1021 N. Hamilton, in the Logan neighborhood across the street from Gonzaga. The company is working on the plans for this new location, but an exact opening date won't be known for a little while due to possible construction and permitting delays. However as of right now we're hearing this new location should open sometime around January 2026 as remodeling will be necessary to the space.

Konala founder and CEO, Trace Miller confirmed for us that they also have a couple more locations in the works in Spokane and Kootenai County but nothing that is far enough along to confirm just yet. The company has also been in the news lately for securing multi-unit franchise deals in Montana, Utah and New Jersey with new corporate owned locations also in the works in Nevada. With this level of growth, it might not be very long before Konala's healthy fast-food locations are found nationwide, for more information about their brand, visit their website at https://konala.com

After repairs, Petunia & Loomis is celebrating a grand re-opening in Downtown Spokane

 

After months of cleanup, construction and even some creativity, the curiosity shop Petunia & Loomis recently announced their grand re-opening beginning today (Aug. 1st) thru Aug. 3rd. The extensive repairs come on the heels of two devastating floods that hit the store in December and February. "Two floods in two months nearly swept us away" said Manager Jesse McCauley. "But like any good gothic ghost story, we came back stronger - and spookier - than ever."

The store now boasts brand-new floors and an upgraded layout that enhances the immersive, eerie experience customers have come to love. With expanded product line, returning fans and new visitor alike can look forward to curated oddities, magical supplies, antique curios, and haunted home decor that reflect the store's signature dark charm. Additionally, Petunia & Loomis is rolling out a calendar of creepy and creative events, including: 

Bug Pinning classes

Tarot classes

Tattoo pop-up's

Kids classes

and of course, their annual Krampus event in December. Petunia & Loomis is located in Downtown Spokane at 224 N. Howard. As of my writing this the store is open Mon-Sat 11-6 and Sun. 11-5, for more info on the store visit their website at https://petunialoomis.com/

Fresh Today Cafe opens in Northtown Mall

 

A new restaurant opened recently within the Northtown Mall in Spokane. The owners of Fresh Today Catering,LLC have opened a new place called Fresh Today Cafe in the food court area on the second floor of the mall. 

Fresh Today Cafe officially opened in June and will serve sandwiches, flatbreads, soups, salads, comfort foods, grab and go items, breakfast, cakes, pretzels, cookies, brownies and more. They also will routinely post specials via a "fresh sheet". Fresh Today does also plan to continue their original catering and bakery side of the business. Indoor dining is provided in the mall food court and menu items are also available for delivery via Doordash.

For more information on Fresh Today Catering visit their website at https://freshtodaycatering.com/ and give Fresh Today Cafe a follow-on social media via Facebook

Veteran duo introduces D1 Training to Coeur d' Alene with new location

 

Courtesy photo

In June local entrepreneurs and veterans Richard Smith and Kyle Parkinson opened a new D1 Training location at 8632 N. Government Way.  D1 Training is a leading fitness enrichment concept utilizing the five core tenets of athletic-based training. The new group fitness facility employs a sports-science backed training regimen led by certified trainers to help people of all ages achieve their sport and fitness goals.

D1 Training offers four age-based programs including Rookie (ages 7-11), Developmental (ages 12-14), Prep (ages 15-18) and D1 adult. Each fitness program is based on the five athletic-based tenets: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning, and cool down. Outside of group workouts, D1 Training offers group, semi-private, and one-on-one training with world class coaches. D1 Training has been expanding across the nation though franchising, D1 Training has more than 100 performance centers open with over 100 more centers currently in various stages of development.

For more information on D1 Training in Coeur d' Alene, visit the CdA location's webpage at https://www.d1training.com/cda/

New Blvd Doughnut Co / Union Roasters co-branded shop opening in Coeur d' Alene

 

What's a better combination then coffee and doughnuts? Go ahead, I'll wait...

Well, maybe there's a couple others that are close but it's that combination that is coming next week to the new location of Union Roasters, with their newest venture Blvd. Doughnut Co. at 1515 Northwest Blvd. in Coeur d' Alene. The owners claimed in a recent social media post that the doughnuts will be the PNW's holiest donuts made in small batches made fresh every morning. Additionally, the new shop will also have the full menu of the local coffee company Union Roasters who also has locations already open in Midtown Coeur d' Alene and on Tea Olive Ln. on Coeur d' Alene's northwest side. 

The new shop is scheduled to open on Monday, July 28th at 6am. Another new Union Roasters shop is currently in the planning phase to eventually open on the ground floor of the new Thomas George high rise in Downtown Coeur d' Alene. For more information on the company, visit their website at http://unionroasters.co and for more information on Blvd Doughnut Co., check out their page on Instagram

Back 40 Meadery opens on Newport Hwy in Spokane

 

Courtesy photo- Back 40 Meadery's Facebook page.

Claimed as Spokane's only honey wine tasting room, Back 40 Meadery is celebrating their grand opening this weekend at 10403 N. Newport Hwy. in the Whitworth Square shopping center. The grand opening is being called "Christmas in July" with an indoor market also included highlighting local artists and artisans. Families and non-drinkers visiting during the opening event can also partake in mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages.

However, those wishing to partake will be able to sample mead's made locally by Back 40, who is a small batch meadery that focuses on using locally sourced honey and fresh fruit to create unique and delicious honey wines (mead).  Additionally, the new tasting room also offers a few local beers from Spokane's Bellwether Brewing. The business has operated in Elk,WA for some time before opening this new Spokane tasting room. 

The Christmas in July grand opening event is being from July 25-27th. For more information on Back 40 Meadery visit their website at http://back40meadery.com 

Construction to resume on new commercial building on Aero Rd on the West Plains

 Construction is set to resume on a paused new commercial building project at 10430 W. Aero Rd. adjacent to the Aero Rd / Westbow Rd roundabout on the West Plains. The building was once planned to be a dental clinic and site work, and foundation work was already largely done. Under the new plan however the building will be built and leased out to a number of retail and medical office tenants. No tenants can be named as of my writing this, but there is interest and marketing of the building is already underway with LT Real Estate being the local contact for leasing. 

Courtesy photo - LT Real Estate Co.

The property owner will act as the general contractor for the development, with architectural design done by Bernardo Wills. Once complete the new building will offer a total 11,500 square feet of new commercial space, shown in the marketing materials as divisible up to five separate suites. The project site plans also show a decent sized surface parking area as well.

While no tenants are confirmable for opening in this new building it will surely only be a short time before we're reporting on new places here, with easy access to I-90 and in the rapidly growing "Fake Cheney" area and the large Amazon Fulfillment Centers located just a short drive away on the other side of the I-90 freeway. For more information on leasing space in this new center contact Dallas Lightner of LT Real Estate at 509-315-8720 / dallas@ltrealestateco.com or Ryan Towner also of LT Real Estate at 509-481-0373 / ryan@ltrealestateco.com

Twisted Stitch Yarn now open on the South Hill

 

Courtesy photo.

A new locally owned and operated yarn shop is now open on the South Hill. The new business, called Twisted Stitch Yarn is located within a unique and historic building at 307 E. 18th Ave. Twisted Stich sells a variety of yarns, as well as knitting nettles, crochet hooks, as well as other knitting and crotchet tools and notions. 

In addition to the retail area, Twisted Stitch Yarn is planning to host classes starting sometime this fall. And, an open "Makers Afternoon" on Saturdays for knitters, crocheters, fiber fans and even the just curious. Information about all events at the new store can be found on their social media pages, Facebook or Instagram

They tell me their goal is to be inclusive, have fun, and grow and support our knit/crochet community.

Barrelhouse Pizzeria opening soon in Downtown Spokane

The owners of Barrelhouse Pub & Pizza are expanding their reach with a new concept coming soon to Downtown Spokane. The owners are currently working on a new restaurant called Barrelhouse Pizzeria which will open on the ground floor of the Holley Mason Building at 157 S. Howard, the former home of the now closed Zona Blanca ceviche restaurant. There isn't a set opening date for the new place just yet, however they say they might be able to do a soft opening as soon as next month. The owner of Barrelhouse will make announcements for the exact dates.

The new Barrelhouse Pizzeria will be a brick fired pizzeria and barrel aged whisky concept. The menu will consist of Neapolitan style pizzas, fresh roasted meat sandwiches, salads and whisky drawn directly from the oak barrel among other specialty drinks. 

As of my writing this I don't see a website for Barrelhouse Pizzeria in Spokane, however info on their original business Barrelhouse Pub & Pizza can be found at https://www.barrelhousepubandpizza.com/

Dickey's Barbecue Pit coming soon to Post Falls

 

Dickey's Barbecue Pit, the world's largest barbecue restaurant brand is expanding locally and will soon open a new location in Post Falls. The new restaurant will be in the space last occupied by a now closed restaurant called The Filling Station at 306 N. Spokane St.

The Dickey's chain says they are known for its authentic Texas-style barbecue with signature slow-smoked meats, classic sides, and warm hospitality.  The new restaurant will offer dine-in service, carryout, online ordering, delivery and even full-service catering. "We continue to grow with passionate local owners who believe in great food and great service," said Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group. "Post Falls is a thriving community, and this new restaurant reflects our commitment to bringing quality barbecue to new markets while empowering local entrepreneurs."

Work is underway for the new Post Falls Dickey's with a grand opening coming sometime within the "coming weeks". For more information on Dickey's Barbecue Pit, visit their website at https://www.dickeys.com/

Bricks & Minifigs to open new store in Coeur d' Alene

 

Courtesy photo.

Bricks & Minifigs, a franchise-based chain of LEGO product retailers is coming soon to Coeur d' Alene. A local owner will open a new Bricks & Minifigs store next to the Coeur d' Alene Fred Meyer store at 560 W. Kathleen Ave. Unit #2. They plan to do some remodeling to the space before opening so an exact opening date isn't available just yet but could be during the fall of this year. They intend to do updates on their progress via social media, which will be linked below.

Bricks & Minifigs says their motto is "rebuild, reuse and reimagine" with the store buying, selling and trading all things LEGO from large full sets to collectable minifigs and build-your-own minifigs. With the business model the inventory will also always be changing, a LEGO lover's dream come true.

For more information on Bricks & Minifigs Coeur d' Alene, visit the new store's website at https://bricksandminifigs.com/coeurdalene-id/ or give them a follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bamcoeurdalene

Crepe Cafe Sisters to open new location in Liberty Lake

 Crepe Cafe Sisters, a locally owned and operated crepe restaurant is planning to open a new location, this time in Liberty Lake. The business began as a food truck and became popular expanding into a brick-and-mortar location on Nettleton St. in Kendall Yards back in 2021. They also expanded to Leavenworth where they operate a location on 9th St. and both will continue to serve their delicious crepes even after the opening of the new Liberty Lake restaurant.

The new Liberty Lake Crepe Cafe Sisters will be located within the former TT's BBQ restaurant space at 1950 N. Harvest Pkwy, across from Orchard Park. Some remodeling will be done to the space first with the new restaurant planned to open there sometime in the Fall of this year. They plan to continue to offer a menu of both sweet and savory crepes with gluten free and vegan options available.

For more information on Crepe Cafe Sisters, including the portal to place an order online, check out their website at https://www.crepecafesisters.com/

Downtown Spokane celebrates cultural diversity with mini grant events

 The Downtown Spokane Partnership recently announced the five local organizations that are recipients of 2025 Mini Grants. These local organizations will be able to use the funding to activate Wall Street between Spokane Falls Blvd. and Main St. with community events. These events will be free, family-friendly events that will celebrate the region's cultural richness while offering inclusive experiences for all. 

Funding for the grant program was made possible by Numerica Credit Union. "Numerica is thrilled to join Downtown Spokane Partnership in celebrating the winners of this year's mini cultural grant program" said Travis Simpson, chief retail and digital officer at Numerica. "By investing in events that showcase diverse cultures and experiences, we are helping build these organization's capacity and ultimately a more vibrant and inclusive city." Launched with reallocated 2020 marketing dollars during the COVID-19 shutdowns, the Downtown Spokane Partnership began awarding cultural grants in 2021 to help seed community-centered events. Past recipients include the Tacos y Taquila Festival and Lunar New Year Celebration.

The 2025 Mini Grant recipients and their event dates are:

Armenian Festival of Spokane July 26th

Summer Splash Party August 9th

Soul Food & Sips August 30th

Festa Italia September 20th

Chinese Moon Festival September 27th

For full event details and times on these and the many other events in Downtown Spokane, visit the Downtown Spokane Partnership website at http://www.downtownspokane.org

Grocery Outlet planning a new store in Deer Park

 Deer Park will soon be getting a new option for grocery shopping. The California based chain of discount grocery stores, that operates mostly with local franchisees is currently in the planning process for a new store to be built at 507 W. Crawford St, next door to Tractor Supply on the edge of the Town of Deer Park. 

The project is currently in the SEPA application process to help determine its environmental impact. In the application the developer indicates they would like to begin construction at the site during the fall of 2025. This would likely mean the new store would open sometime in 2026. While actual building permits have not been issued just yet, Garco Construction has been chosen as the general contractor for the project an a worksite storage trailer is already on the site as of my writing this.

The plans show a new construction building at about 16,000 square feet with Grocery Outlet being the sole tenant and a new surface parking lot. Once open this will be the fifth location for Grocery Outlet in Spokane County, according to the Wikipedia the company boasts 480 stores chainwide as of May 2024 but the chain is currently expanding and opening new stores in many markets. For more information on Grocery Outlet, visit their website at http://groceryoutlet.com/

New multi-tenant commercial building to be built in Liberty Lake

Courtesy photo, provided by Daines Capital

Located on the western side of the city of Liberty Lake is a planned new commercial development, being marketed as the Ridgeline Center. The new building will be constructed soon at 19701 E. Appleway, across Appleway from Ridgeline High School and will offer space for one or multiple tenants focusing primarily on office or medical office space users.

All together the new building will offer 15,000 square feet of space with an onsite surface parking lot. Spaces can be demised down to 2,000 square feet and parking is offered at 5.17 to 1000 SF. Construction will be begin this summer with an estimated completion sometime around the summer of 2026. The general contractor for the Ridgeline Center project will be Silvey Construction and architectural work done by Bernardo Wills. 

There are currently no tenants to be announced as opening in the new building just yet. But I'm told there already has been a lot of interest, so we expect to know more about this once it gets closer to completion. Daines Capital is marketing the space for lease, with more information available by calling Steven Daines at 509-590-9114 or email steven@dainescapital.com , also visit https://dainescapital.com for other commercial real estate opportunities in the Inland Northwest and beyond.

The Thrifty Gift opens in Dalton Gardens

 

A new for-profit thrift store has opened in a unique building in Dalton Gardens, nearby Coeur d' Alene. Located in a former dentist's office building, The Thrifty Gift is a 1000 square foot retail store located at 6176 N. Government Way, by The Mall Storage. They've even incorporated the former dental chair rooms to display their array of merchandise.

The Thrifty Gift sells everything from adult to kids clothing, yard art, home decor, DVD's/books/magazines, collectables, handmade creations from the owner and a lot more. The owner are a daughter and her mother who have established roots in Kootenai County and say they have priced their items to make it back into the community, they even offer a punch card program for their more frequent buyers. The Thrifty Gift is currently open Tues-Say 9am-4pm and more information about the business can be found on their website https://thriftygiftdalton.square.site/ and give them a follow-on social media via Facebook .

Trailbreaker Cider opens new location in River Park Square

 

Courtesy photo- Trailbreaker Cider owner Trent Maier.

Just in time for Hoopfest, the Liberty Lake based hard cider company, Trailbreaker Cider has expanded and opened a second location in Downtown Spokane's River Park Square. The new place is similar to the Liberty Lake location, which also remains open, with the full line of locally produced Trailbreaker Cider's, several local beers and regional wines and a restaurant menu as well.

The River Park Square Trailbreaker Cider is located on the 3rd floor of the shopping center in-between the food court and the AMC Movie Theater ticket counters. They plan to add to the Downtown menu as the longer they are open but are starting with pizzas, salads, cheesecake and a few other of their staple items. For more information on Trailbreaker Cider, check out their website at https://www.trailbreakercider.com/

Sahil's Halal Market opens near Downtown Spokane

Food and other market items are available once more at 417 E. Third Ave., just east of Downtown Spokane. The former home of Alpine Delicatessen, a now closed European market and deli has reopened with a different local owner and a different type of cuisine. 

Sahil's Halal Market recently opened there and carries a selection of Middle Eastern and Asian foods with a selection that is growing the longer they are open. Sahil's currently has spices, sweets, drinks, dried fruits, naan, pastries and will soon have freshly baked breads and halal meats. For more information on Sahil's Halal Market, including the new grocery items they are getting in, give them a follow-on social media at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577229477927

Soulful Soups to return, at a different location in Downtown Spokane

 An iconic local restaurant that closed down at the end of April is returning. Today it was announced that Soulful Soups and Spirits will transfer ownership too local couple Aaron & Kaden Earle who plan to re-open the restaurant in new location.

Courtesy photo of the inside of the new Soulful Soups location on S. Madison.

Soulful Soups will relocate to a storefront at 111 S. Madison, the former Downtown One Tree Cider Taphouse and might be prepared to open as soon sometime in July and should be prepared for full service this fall. I'm told everything will be the same with the new location and owner, even with the recipes for the businesses soups, the only exception is they will now have a tap system for draft beer, wine and ciders. 

The original Soulful Soups and Spirits at 117 N. Howard is currently being converted in a Supa! Authentic Japanese Kitchen from a completely different owner as Soulful Soups. For more info on the re-opening of Soulful Soups give them a follow-on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/soulfulsoupsandspirits

Eats on Spokane Street opens in Post Falls

 An exciting new food truck court is now open in Post Falls called Eats on Spokane Street and is of course located on Spokane St, at 106 N. Spokane St next door to Post Falls Brewing Company. The new project has outdoor food truck spaces and a pavilion style building that also houses a couple of new eateries. Plans call for the site to also be home to some events with a night of live music even planned for tonight (June 20th) from 5-8pm.

The opening vendors of Eats on Spokane Street include:

Charcuteria serving Italian sandwiches, salads, charcuterie boards, kids sandwiches and gelato.

Angel's Eats and Treats serving Philly Cheesesteaks

Woody's Smoked Salmon serving smoked salmon sandwiches on sourdough and chowder

Taco Works

Melfit Healthy Kitchen serving healthy meals created by a chef, nutritionist and personal trainer.

Nachos Cantina serving sheet pan nachos with smoked meats. 

Additionally, Eats on Spokane Street still have room for three more food vendors to join the project. For more information, visit their website at https://www.eatsonspokanest.com/

Ellie Mental Health expands to Post Falls with new clinic at Millworx

 Access to quality mental health care is growing in North Idaho. Ellie Mental Health recently announced the opening of their second regional clinic in Post Falls at 949 E. Fourth St. Suite 106 in the new Millworx mixed-use development. The Coeur d' Alene clinic, located within the Riverstone development will also remain open.

Courtesy photos. 

Ellie Mental Health of North Idaho conducts over 1,000 individual patient visits each month and aims to double that positive impact. Ellie Mental Health is a modern outpatient provider on a mission to normalize therapy, reduce access barriers, and empower clinicians to thrive. They say their clinician-first model creates flexible, supportive environments that allow mental health professionals to focus on delivering high-quality care to individuals, couples, families, and organizations. "Our second location is now open and accepting new patients," said Jamie Major, one of the local owners said. "We're proud to be in-network with most major insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, Pacific Source and more."

An official grand opening will be held on the afternoon of Thursday, June 26th 2025, hosted by the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, the public is invited to attend. For more information on the new Post Falls Ellie Mental Health visit their website at https://elliementalhealth.com/locations/post-falls-millworx-id/

McDonald's to build a new restaurant along Hwy 41 in Post Falls

 A great deal of new construction is either underway or coming soon along the Hwy 41 corridor from its junction with I-90 in Post Falls up to the city of Rathdrum. One such development site in this section is North Point Plaza, a commercial development from Hayden based Corhaven Properties that had a new Grocery Outlet and 7-11 open earlier this year. And now the developers have announced a new McDonald's restaurant will also be joining the development soon. 

This will be the third McDonald's in the City of Post Falls with the others remaining open after the new location opens. The McDonald's will be built new next door to 7-11 by the corner of Hwy. 41 and Poleline Rd. , construction on the new building is planned to start in either late summer or early fall of this year with opening planned for some time in the first two quarters of 2026. The restaurant will be about 3,800 square feet with indoor dining and a dual lane drive thru.

The North Point Plaza development at 41 and Poleline Rd. also still has room for a few more tenants and is actively marketing the prime piece of real estate. For more information on building at North Point Plaza, check out the project's page on Corhaven Properties website http://corhaven.com/portfolio-item/introducing-north-point-plaza-your-premier-retail-destination-in-post-falls-idaho/

El Jefe's Grill coming soon to Coeur d' Alene

 

A new quick service restaurant specializing authentic Mexican BBQ made with mesquite is coming soon to Coeur d' Alene, and possibly other area locations in the future. Work is underway on El Jefe's Grill set to open in the storefront space at 405 E. Best Ave. Suite 104, by the corner of 4th / Best and Appleway. The business is locally owned and operated and the owner tells me their chicken, carne asada, wings and even their salsas will be roasted on the Mesquite BBQ. He says there will also be other menu items that he says everyone will be sure to love including rice bowls, Sonoran hot dogs and more.

El Jefe's Grill will also have a bar with 8 beers on tap as well as many bottled options to choose from. Additionally, the bar will have a good wine selection and pre-made cocktails. The opening date has yet to be announced but will surely be announced soon on their social media pages. A second location in a yet to be announced site somewhere in North Idaho is also being planned, watch the El Jefe's Grill social media pages for that as well.

For more information On El Jefe's Grill, visit their website at https://eljefesgrill.com/, and give them a follow-on Facebook or Instagram